Substance Use Risk Assessment

When substance use overlaps with other mental health issues, it can be difficult to know which came first. Sometimes, untreated mental health issues can be the source of a substance use issue. In other situations, substance use can lead to, or worsen, mental health problems. These “co-occurring” mental health and substance use disorders are common. One in five young adults struggles with a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety, and this can often overlap with substance use. If your child is struggling, it is important to find a professional who understands both mental health and addiction-related issues. Read more about co-occurring disorders here:

Individual drugs such as nicotine each have their own risks, which are important to know if your teen is using them. And frequency of use has been found to be predictive of developing or having a substance use disorder.

Individual drugs such as marijuana each have their own risks, which are important to know if your teen is using them. And frequency of use has been found to be predictive of developing or having a substance use disorder.

Individual drugs each have their own risks than other substances including overdose. More information about these risks can be found in our Drug Guide for Parents. Teens using these substances could benefit from a substance use evaluation with an addiction professional to determine what kind of help they need. Learn more in our Treatment E-book.

If your child is using heroin, fentanyl or prescription pain medications, have naloxone, also known as Narcan, on hand as a safety measure. It can reverse an overdose if used in time.

If your child has close friends who smoke, drink or use other substances, your child is at risk of joining in to be part of the group. Teens often avoid telling their parents about their friends’ risky behavior, which is one reason it is important to know who your child’s friends are. In addition to helping your child find a healthier groups of friends, it’s also important to help your child resist offers to engage in risky behaviors, including substance use. Here are some resources that can help:

And for some kids, using substances can become a habit as they try to manage their stress. You can help your child learn “stress-busting” skills in addition to showing them healthy ways in which you manage stress. Here’s some information that can help:

Clear and consistent expectations, boundaries and consequences are important to establish early, ideally before any substance use occurs. Rules mean you care about your child and their safety. Don’t feel bad about setting limits — your child needs them. Here’s information on how to set limits that can help:

While risk-taking is a normal part of teen development, sensation-seeking teens may be more willing to experiment with substance use. It’s important to guide your child towards healthy risk-taking and challenges that will satisfy them without unsafe consequences. Learn more about healthy risk taking:

There are things parents and other caregivers can do to improve their child’s relationship with school such as reinforcing at home the school’s expectations related to attendance, classroom behavior, and homework; and creating a supportive learning environment at home by providing homework guidance, having needed supplies on hand, and helping children with time management. Here are some resources that can help:

The brains of teens and young adults are still developing up until the age of 25, which means that it can take some time for them to learn to react in slower and more thoughtful ways. Impulsivity and sensation-seeking can increase the risk of early substance use and substance use disorder. However, there are steps you can take to help your child learn more self-control and work towards long-term goals rather than short-term ones. For more information on impulse control, read this article from Scholastic: